Short and round, she dresses like a gypsy in vibrant and sometimes clashing colors. She’s been known to dye her hair to match her mood. She does a Good Deed every day and smiles at everyone she meets. But underneath her happy-go-lucky exterior, Patience Delecourt is lonely and afraid. She’s the mouse in a demon’s Cat-and-Mouse game that’s been going on for years. Her ideal hero would come straight out of the old movies she watches night after night alone in her tiny apartment.

Stuffy and socially awkward, Broadbent ad Sebastian, Guardian of the Race, has his vision of the ideal woman, too; tall, elegant, cultured, and well-read. But every time he meets someone who might fill the bill, his advances are met with laughter and derision. As hard as he tries to emulate his fellow Guardians; their prowess with women, their clothes, their interests; he just can’t get it right.

He doesn’t see himself as handsome or a hero. She doesn’t see herself as beautiful or brave. Yet what they find together opens new worlds of wonder for them both. It also opens the doors to old enemies and sets off a series of events that threaten the House of Guardians and the people within it. With the credits ready to roll on their mismatched love story, Patience and Broadbent will have to find the bravery and heroism they see in each other, and decide how much they will sacrifice for love.

My Review:

I love how the world of the Guardians continues to grow with each instalment in the series. Rhoades’ world building never stagnates but rather continues to grow and build on itself. I enjoy the play of dark versus light in the story. You can really feel it as it permeates the tale, along with the shades of grey in between. Drama, action, and excitement are at an all-time high here. I found myself gasping and gripping the edge of my seat throughout. The suspense in parts was killing me. The action sequences in other scenes were so vivid that I felt like I was watching a play-by-play. I was also emotionally engaged in the story. Being that the characters are so easy to connect with, their stories became my story. Rhoades brings the magic of romance to life in a brilliant way.

Getting to know Broadbent better in this novel was fantastic. He’s been one of my favourites since the beginning. I love the way that Broadbent thinks and talks. He definitely stands out as one of a kind. I appreciate the fact that as much as he’d like to be more like the others he’s still content being himself. Pinky is very unique in her own right as well. And holy alliteration with Patience’s name! But it suits her so well that I couldn’t help but love it (and try to say it 5 times fast). The two main characters being somewhat out of the mainstream makes them simply perfect. They’re both one of a kind individuals that definitely have found a place in my heart. I really enjoy the fact that the characters from past novels in the series still play a prominent and important role in this novel, even as Broadbent & Pinky get their time to shine. The combination of romance with family is something that you can’t help but enjoy.

Rhoades definitely has another winner with this one. Her fantastic storytelling and attention to detail shine through this remarkable & absolutely unforgettable novel. It may just be my favourite story from her yet.